Centering lift jack



July 25, 1950 i w, PARKER I 2,516,483

CPNTERING LIFT JACK Filed My 15, 1946 INVENTOR. ZZ/a Zzer Parker ATTD RNEYS Patented July 25, 1950 CENTERING LIFT JACK Walter Parker, Geneseo,N. Y.'; Grant N dlarker administrator of said Walter Parker, deceasedApplication May 15, 1946, Serial No. 669,877

1 Claim. 1

The invention relates to a lift jack and mor especially to a centeringlift jack fo automobiles or the like.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a jack of thischaracter, wherein the lift member thereof can be clamped automaticallyto the part to be lifted by the said jack, so as to prevent the tiltingof the latter when the part has been lifted or while lifting th same.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a jack of thischaracter, wherein the clamp for the part is of novel construction andunique in the assembly, whereby it automatically moves to a clampingposition when a, load is imposed thereon, and on the freeing of suchload the clamp automatically releases itself therefrom.

A further object of the invention is the provision .of a jack of thischaracter, which is simple in construction, thoroughly reliable andefficient in operation, strong, durable, readily and easily operated forthe lifting of a load, it being automatically clamped to such loadduring the lifting operation, and centers the lifting member to the saidload, thus eliminating the tilting of the jack, and inexpensive tomanufacture.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in thefeatures of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as willbe hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing, which discloses the preferred embodiment of the invention andpointed out in the claim hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure l is an elevation of a jack constructed in accordance with theinvention and in initial position for lifting.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view similar to Figure 1 showing the jack inlifting position.

Figure 3 is a View similar to Figure 2 showing the jack clamped to theaxle housing of a motor vehicle.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary side view of the clamp of the jack.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout theseveral views in the drawing.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the jack constitutin the presentinvention, comprises a stand base or foundation plate it] from whichrises centrally thereof a cylindrical post or column II, it beingreinforced by bracing ribs 12, which are joined with the base or plateIll and such post or column.

Working within the post or column ii is the usual sectionallytelescopically interfitted extensible and retractible lift member l3,having a swiveled saddling head or rest M, which is of crescent shape.The lift member I 3 is raised and lowered by a train of driving gearsl5, one being in threaded connection therewith and embraces the saidmember, and has rotatable-bearing fitting with the upper end of the postor column I l, as best seen in Figure 1 of the drawing. The other gearl51of the train is adapted for separable connection to an operatinghandle bar or the like, not shown, the gears I5 being partially confinedin a guard frame l6, which is built to the post or column I I.

The lift member Il3 at the uppermost or outer section IT is manuallyadjusted to lengthen or shorten such member for increasing or decreasingits lifting range.

The saddling head or rest head M at the terminal horns l-8 thereof hasconnected by pivots l9 thereto opposed opening and closing clamping jaws20, both being outwardly bowed and vertically swing to opening andclosing relation to each other, and when these are closed they embrace apart, which in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawing is illustrative of anautomobile spring denoted in part at 2|, for the centering thereof andthe clamping of the jack thereto when such part is lifted thereby.

These jaws '20 are urged by springs 22 to open position, which springsare connected to the pivoted areas of the jaws and to the saddling heador rest [4, these pivotal areas 23 being in the path of the load to belifted when the jaws are in normal open position, so that an automaticclosing action by contact of the load will take place on the liftingthereof, for the clamping of the jaws about the said load while beinglifted and in a raised position.

In Figure 3 of the drawing the clamping jaws 20 are shown in clampingengagement about an axle housing 24, and if desirable each jaw can beconstructed of a group of sections or segments as denoted at 25, thesebeing independent of one another, and thus the jaw conforming to thecontour of the part to be clamped.

What is claimed is:

A lift jack of the kind described, comprising a lift member, a rest headswiveled thereto, a pair of clamping jaws pivoted to said head andcarried thereby in opposed relationship to each other, each of saidclamping jaws comprising a plurality of separate segments arranged inside-by-side relationship whereby the gripping engagement of the jawswith the load will clampingly conform to the irregularities in theconfiguration of the load, the engagement of the jaws with the loadcausing a closing thereof about the load under the lifting action of thelift member, and spring-operated opening means for automatically openingsaid jaws from about said load upon lowering of the lift member, saidspring-operated means comprising a plurality of springson each ofsaidiaws, there being one rspring for each segment-of said jaw, saidsprings extending between said rest head and said segments of said jaws,and being under tension when said jaws are clamped around said load.

WALTER PARKER. 15

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 687,620 Goodwin Nov. 26, 19011,901,332 Pryor Mar. 14, 1933 2,054,211 White Sept. 15, 1936 102,063,060 Sheets Dec; 8, 1936 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date491,324 Great Britain 1 Aug. 31, 1938 713,530 France Aug. 17, 1931

